My name is Régine, I’ve been working as a secretary at the "Ligue Grand-Est de Football" (Great East football league) for 35 years.

Mother of two boys, I’ve been divorced for 20 years. When my kids left home 10 years ago, I decided to get involved as a volunteer to accompany the terminally ill people. In this association, I’ve been able to blossom with a team of volunteers. We always put forwards the necessity of listening to people who are going through hard times due to their sickness and also helping their relatives. It’s a real privilege to live these moments of listening, presence and humanity with other volunteers. Our emotions can be tested but what makes us holding on is the unity we share through those hard times. You really learn about life in general, it’s rewarding for others and yourself. As I was involved in this life experience, I decided to go even further by doing something else like this humanitarian trip to Sri Lanka that I’ve been able to do thanks to Ilan (UVS International’s director).

I shared this adventure with two friends of mine. I lived a complete different experience based on team work and sharing. It was a life experience, I learned a lot by meeting other people and I also learned about myself thanks to what we shared while our limits were over pushed. We renovated a school and to do so, we were given different tasks: painting, sandpapering, cleaning and it was all done in a great mood. We were hosted close to the school, in village’s families. We were 5 people to sleep in Vimala’s house, a Sri Lankan woman. We shared the daily life despite the heat, the fatigue and differences in some points of view concerning the group life. It was really hot and humid but even so, I’ve been able to live in harmony with my own values.

My strongest memory is the school’s fete; kids’ smiles were the best reward. Everyone was happy, the joy was contagious. This trip brought me a lot of peace and well-being. Today, I try to take things as they come with more simplicity and authenticity.